I attended a very exciting meeting today that's part of an effort on several groups to make the Sax Zim Bog area more birder friendly. One of the issues that has been brought up, especially for this year are some of the dangerous viewing situations that are happening on the roads. People that work and live in the community are asking birders to pull off completely to the sides of roads. There have been a few instances in the last month of more than one vehicle stopped in the middle of the streets blocking traffic both ways. There was also a day when several cars were stopped just on the other side of a hill and oncoming traffic couldn't see the birders until they were on top of the hill and very close to hitting them.
This has been a problem with vehicles with Minnesota plates as well as out of state plates. As many of us have websites promoting the owls and where to see them, and we are getting posts from people watching our lists from out of state, perhaps we can give them friendly reminders to practice vehicular and pedestrian safety. Maybe we can even include a friendly reminder on the Duluth and State Wide Hot Lines. Locals also pointed out that some people who live in the area travel very fast down the roads and with the icy conditions and accident is more likely to occur. Another request for this year is that since so many owls are being seen all over the area, avoid stopping and pulling over on 133 and 52 as these are the roads used most often by locals. There are some pull off and parking areas on theses roads and locals assure that many great grays can be seen from these parking areas. Also please avoid setting up scopes in the middle of these particular roads. The trees really are dripping with owls so you will see them on some of the less traveled roads. Of course we saw 19 great grays in the area, 1 northern hawk owl and 1 barred owl and a flock of pine grosbeaks. -- Sharon Stiteler Minneapolis, MN www.birdchick.com
